Photo courtesy of Town and Country Resort
Palm trees lend to San Diego's relaxed Southern California vibe, including these overlooking the pool at the Town and Country Resort.
For those bogged down by the climate in Washington – either a meteorological or political one – a perfect antidote can be found in the balmy, relaxed vibe of San Diego.
Palm trees and soft breezes soothe the soul in San Diego. The border town with the steady Mediterranean climate offers a pleasurable range of possibilities that can be enjoyed during a long weekend or even a full week.
While Los Angeles frequently boasts more fanfare and glitz, sometimes overlooked San Diego offers an array of experiences that holds up well with its noisier, more harried cousin two hours to the north.
Today’s San Diego is a melding of cultures and styles, with the city’s European roots tracing to 1542 when Juan Rodriguez Carrillo claimed the area for Spain. More than 200 years later, San Diego became the first permanent European settlement in California, later becoming part of Mexico before winding up in the United States.
San Diego Bay Anchors the City
Like in the past, San Diego Bay remains a centerpiece for the city. The downtown skyline rises from the east side, and the bay is flanked by sprawling naval operations. Think of this as the West Coast’s version of Norfolk, Va. The deep port boasts the largest naval fleet in the world, home to dozens of U.S. Navy ships. Stunning views of aircraft carriers and warships are hard to miss, whether while landing at the neighboring airport or simply driving around San Diego Bay.
The military feel is part of life in San Diego. Uniformed personnel can be seen everywhere, enjoying the beaches or walking downtown’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter brimming with restaurants and nightlife. And at Petco Park, the San Diego Padres’ home, the upper decks are routinely filled with uniformed members of the armed services.
For baseball fans, the stadium is one of the best, part of the retro lineage that traces back to Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The stadium offers an unusual quirk, with the red-bricked Western Metal Supply Co. incorporated into the ballpark’s design. The edge of the four-story building from 1909 actually serves as the left-field foul pole. But history aside, the Padres’ park can claim some of the best ballpark food and drink in Major League Baseball.
From Feasts to Beasts
Not far from downtown is the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This area offers visitors a glimpse at the converging cultures that transformed San Diego from an ancestral Kumeyaay village into a Mexican pueblo and into the modern city. Festive restaurants offer a range of Mexican foods.
While Old Town leans heavy on the tourist and tour bus side, other options are available to eat like a local. One popular destination: The Taco Stand, a small joint with multiple locations, is frequented by everyone from downtown workers on a lunch break to surfer dudes refueling after leaving the beach.
San Diego is famous for its zoo. And it’s amazing – one of the best in the world – with an array of interesting animals and exhibits lined with gorgeous greenery and flowers. The cuddly koalas are a highlight as they lazily munch on eucalyptus. The zoo’s pandas are another big attraction. Nothing against the spectacular San Diego Zoo and not to be a homer, but the exhibit falls a bit short of the panda display at Washington’s National Zoo.
Great Beach Towns, for Shore!
Beyond the city, the area has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to beaches.
To the north, there’s the classic town of La Jolla, the seaside home to multimillion dollar houses, high-end retail and rooftop restaurants with a view of the Pacific.
A stroll on the La Jolla beaches at low tide yields the treasure of tide pools. La Jolla is one of the most famous places to see these crevices in the exposed rock, deep enough to allow tiny creatures like starfish, sea anemones and tiny crabs to hang in the water and await the sea’s return. Better to have shoes with decent grip on the wet rocks here, and you’ll be rewarded by being able to watch “all the busy little creatures chasing out their destinies,” as the rock group Rush famously noted in the song “Natural Science.”
Photo by Sarah Larios
The cliffs along the coastline north of La Jolla reflect the sun setting over the Pacific.
The La Jolla beaches – like many along the coast – are home to sea lions lazily lounging on rocks. At sunset in the La Jolla Cove area, the Ellen Browning Scripps Park’s shore is taken over by a raucous colony of sea lions whose bedtime routine includes a cacophony of barking and a pungent aroma stronger than anything at the San Diego Zoo.
To the north, more beaches, shoreline and surfer culture await in a string of beach towns. Skip Interstate 5 and drive leisurely along California 101 to enjoy ocean views and the relaxed Southern California vibe.
Along 101, towns like Encinitas and Carlsbad contain small stores featuring everything from artsy jewelry and vintage vinyl records to tasty local restaurants. And for an afternoon coffee or tea with a different twist, you can sit on timothy hay and feed a group of friendly and photogenic rabbits at Grange Garden in Solana Beach.
Historic Hotels with Claims to Fame
There’s no shortage of interesting places to stay in the San Diego area. Among the options:
Photo courtesy of Hotel del Coronado
Hotel del Coronado
Fancy. One of the nation’s most famous hotels, the Hotel del Coronado is the iconic 1888 Victorian beach resort. Located on Coronado Island, it’s a hop away from San Diego by driving across a towering 200-foot bridge. The high-end hotel has been featured in numerous movies, including 1959’s Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. The hotel features a massive beach with an added bonus of watching F-18 Hornets and other military planes drifting overhead on final approach to the nearby Naval Air Station North Island.
Photo courtesy of Town and Country Resort
The Town and Country Resort in San Diego's Mission Valley offers a retro beach atmosphere with family-friendly activities.
Family. The Town and Country Resort, another vintage San Diego hotel, dates to the 1950s and features a throwback beach vibe and psychedelic beach art in the rooms. The centrally located hotel that’s been recently renovated includes an extensive set of pools and a water slide that’s a hit with families. Among the hotel’s claims to fame: Serving as the training base for Muhammed Ali during his 1973 heavyweight championship fight with Ken Norton.
Photo by Terry Lemons
The pool at the Lafayette Hotel was designed by Olympic swimmer Johnny Weismuller, who starred as Tarzan in the 1930s and 1940s.
Funky. The Lafayette Hotel in North Park has some bragging rights, too. Lavish and glitzy, this boutique hotel opened in 1946 with a pool designed by Olympic gold medalist and Tarzan star Johnny Weismuller and entertainer Bob Hope popping in as the first guest. The detail-rich hotel survived the wrecking ball and then saw a $31 million renovation rejuvenate the hip swagger. Several hotel bars feature a bustling nightlife scene, and the tasty fare at Beginner’s Diner is worth a trip by itself. And fitting with San Diego’s military theme, the hotel was even featured in the original Top Gun movie.
So San Diego can claim its share of Hollywood star power, just without the fuss and stress of its neighbor to the north.
